March 27th, 2015

Davison could be a nice option and a good fit for the Patriots if they decide to wait on DT.

NEPD Staff Writer: Mike Gerken

With just a month until the draft, we have hit the home stretch. Hopefully in the next 4 weeks I can get to as many prospects as possible so you loyal readers are as informed and as up to date as possible on players the Patriots probably won’t pick. As I look at the state of the Patriots roster, a few positions stick out to me that will need to be addressed in the draft. One of those positions is defensive line. Unfortunately, the Patriots don’t have 5 first round picks, so some of these positions will need to be filled later in the draft. Tyeler Davison is a player who will be available in the later rounds and could contribute, so let’s see what he might bring to the team that drafts him. Read the rest of this entry »

March 26th, 2015

In recent years, everybody has been focused on the Denver Broncos as the lone legitimate AFC Super Bowl threat from out west. The Chiefs have even gotten’ some love in recent years as a potential sleeper as well. Oakland.. eh, no need to mention.

However the way I see it, based on a nightmare cap situation in Denver combined with a (in my opinion) vastly overrated roster in Kansas City (losing Eric Berry is a killer), I believe San Diego will rise up as the AFC West Champs this year.

March 24th, 2015

With Williams’ impressive athletic traits, he could be an interesting option for the Patriots at wide receiver.

NEPD Staff Writer: Mike Gerken

Today, I look at another prospect that the Patriots have shown interest in and that Bill Belichick worked out personally. Obviously coming from a small school out west, I had not heard of Tyrell Williams until the article that linked him to the Patriots came out. After doing some research though, you can see why there would be interest from the Patriots. Here is what I saw from Williams. Read the rest of this entry »

March 22nd, 2015

Could Parry be an option to help replace the loss of Vince Wilfork?

NEPD Staff Writer: Mike Gerken

I know it has been a little while since my last report, but I was mourning the loss by my beloved Cyclones in the NCAA tournament. The nice thing is, now there is nothing in the way from watching as much film in the next 6 weeks as possible. As the draft approaches, we start to hear names that have been linked with the Patriots, either through private workouts, team visits, or as is the case with Parry, a pro day that Coach Belichick attends and pays extra attention to a player. I have decided since the Patriots have some sort of interest with these players, I might as well give them some attention as well and find out what the Patriots might see in these particular players. First up was Stanford’s David Parry. Read the rest of this entry »

March 17th, 2015

Few teams have reshaped their roster this off-season more than the Buffalo Bills. It all starts at the top, as a new hard-nosed thorn in the Patriots side mentality will be in full swing as Rex Ryan is the new sheriff in Buffalo.

It now seems like forever ago, but Buffalo made one of the earliest moves of the off-season by signing the highly publicized Richie Incognito. Incognito’s morals can be questioned, but he should help sure up an offensive line that struggled last season. It seems even more evident today, as the Bills made the first big blockbuster trade of the off-season. You may have heard about it.

This off-season is an anomaly. Big time, big name players simply don’t get swapped for one another. As far as straight up, player for player moves, I think back to the Clinton Portis – Champ Bailey swap in 2004 (feel old yet?) Read the rest of this entry »

March 16th, 2015

Will this top 15 talent still be on the board for the Patriots at the end of round 1 because of his off field issues?

NEPD Staff Writer: Mike Gerken

Now that the first wave of free agency has come and gone, we now have a clearer picture of what the Patriots are going to look like going into the draft. The Patriots have lost a lot of players from key roles on both offensive and defense and have not done anything to fill those needs. Obviously, there will be pieces still added, but the big name free agents have signed their massive contracts elsewhere and unless the Patriots make a shocking trade, the players that are brought in are more role players than impact players. That means filling holes and adding talent through the draft. In years past, the Patriots have gone into the draft without glaring needs to fill. This has allowed them to stick to their board and pick the players they liked the best regardless of position. From an outside perspective, this year seems a little different. Can the Patriots stick to their board and still add players at positions of need? Here is my view on how the draft might play out and you tell me if this would make you happy as a Patriots fan.

March 13th, 2015

Have you ever gone out to eat with what seems like an insatiable appetite? The type of appetite that makes you walk into a restaurant with an agenda to shut down the entire kitchen, and when the server asks, “Would you like to start with an appetizer?” your only response is laughter. But then after cleaning off a plate of wings or nachos, that insatiable hunger turns into birthing pains constricting you inside a booth? By the time your main course arrives you’ve already tapped out, and a doggy bag is requested as you prepare to walk to the parking lot defeated.